Rembrandt van Rijn

Painted and printed portraits of theologians occupied an important part of Rembrandtâ€™s repertoire during the 1630s. The sitter here is believed to be Petrus Sylvius (1610â€“1653), son of Jan Cornelis Sylvius (1564â€“1638), both of whom were preachers. In 1637, the younger Sylvius was called to minister in Sloten, Friesland, in the northern Netherlands. Assuming the sitterâ€™s identity is correct, the etching was likely made before his departure as a memento for the friends and relatives he would leave behind in Amsterdam.

Rembrandt had already etched the elder preacherâ€™s portrait in 1633 and painted portrait pendants of him and his wife, Aaltje van Uylenburgh, who was Saskiaâ€™s cousin. When Saskia was orphaned at age 12, Jan Cornelis became her guardian. Aaltjeâ€™s brother Hendrick van Uylenburgh (c. 1587â€“1661) was an important art dealer who was instrumental in launching Rembrandtâ€™s Amsterdam career. Given Rembrandtâ€™s profound friendship with the family, it is not surprising that he produced portraits of its various members.